U.S. Condemns Rocket Attacks

The United States today condemned the rocket attacks on Israel from south Lebanon and expressed its condolences over the loss of Israeli lives in them. “We have conveyed to the Israelis our condolences for deaths and injuries involved by the recent spate of rocket attacks launched from Lebanon,” State Department spokesman Hodding Carter said. “We condemn those attacks.”

Carter said he had no comment on reports of Israeli artillery fire at points in Lebanon from which the attacks were apparently launched.

Responding to questions on the new round of fighting between Palestinians and Christians in southern Lebanon and Israeli support for the Christians, Carter said that “we continue, as in the past, to urge the parties on both sides to show restraint and are working to that end. We hope the cease-fire can be reinstated.”

Carter said the contacts by U.S. officials with the parties is continuing through the American Embassies in Beirut and Tel Aviv. He said the condemnation of the attacks was being transmitted to Israel by cable.